A BED Mat Question...

[loveoldtrux]

Anybody have a non-skid black bed mat in their effie?

I loved the one in my 98 ranger - very heavy - just lay it in and go. I believe it had a ribbed top.... would NOT let groceries / beer slide around.....

I wish I had one for my shortbed. Any of y'all using one that your happy with? I'm looking for the brand name so I can contact the manufacturer of it.

Thanks guys....

[Blue Cloud]

I had a big heavy piece of rubber belting in the bed of 80 F250 I had several years ago. Rusted really bad underneath. Wasn't one of my better ideas.

[jor]

I use a 4'x8' piece of plywood.
jor

[loveoldtrux]

Wha hah ha ha ha ha.... ROFL!!.... yeppirs, I've got mine civvered with pine straw!!

But for the restoration I really need a heavy duty non-skid bed mat... a NICE one... considering I've got several thousand dollars in the engine and there'll be twice as much in body work... I need a GOOD mat.

I'll keep waiting for that right one....

[CJ,s 67 F100]

Welcome aboard, We just put the Herculiner in ours. Post some pics when you can.

[FORDification]

Yeah, slide-in bedliners and bed mats are great for what they're intended, but the bad side effect is all the moisture they trap underneath, greatly accelerating them rusting out the floor. I'd suggest stripping it down to bare metal and giving (at least) the bed floor a coat or two of POR-15 to completely seal it first. Then you can paint it to match the rest of the truck (if so desired) and use the bedliner or bedmat. At least you won't have to worry about rust.

Or, as suggested, get a spray-in bedliner, and you'll never have to worry about it again.

[loveoldtrux]

Thanks for the reply Fordication - YOU are THE MAN!!.....

I will be using a $1,100.00 Gaylord Tonneau Cover over the bed mat - Won't that keep the moisture off the bed? All I'll be hauling after all this will be perhaps a loaf of bread.... Harrison is ready to retire to a life of leisure...

[FORDification]

Yes, with a tonneau cover you'll be ahead of the game by keeping most of the water out. However, even with that cover, moisture will still find it's way in under it...not a lot, but it doesn't take much. Even moisture from the air, especially in a humid climate, is going to condense along the bottom of that bedmat, and since it really doesn't have a way to quickly evaporate (and especially since it'll also be covered with a tonneau cover), it's going to start attacking the paint and then the metal.

However, I think in your case a bedmat would be OK if you frequently removed it for a day to let things air out.

[68F250]

I've been running a bed mat for over ten years now and haven't had any rust issues. The bottom of the mat has dimples that raises it off the floor just enough so air can get around and any water that gets under it runs out the back. On the freeway you can see air get under it but not like it's going anywhere, the suckers heavy! It's made to fit a mid-80's Dodge long bed but fits perfectly with a slight trimming around the wheel wells.

[Clarko]

My truck looks like it's had this bed mat for a while and there's no rust at all under it. It must just be this cali weather.

[loveoldtrux]

Thanks guys for the responses!!..... I found the vendor who made the mat for my Ranger. I'll be ordering one this weekend - yes, it has nubs on the bottom for ventilation.

The tailgate of this sleeper is going to be shaved - won't be any water "exiting out the back" when going down the freeway - it'll be driven maybe 2 days a month - built 460 + gas @ $3.00 = broke driver!

I'll definitely POR the bed right after I restore it and then paint it Mustang Screaming Yellow to match the rest of the truck.

I'll post pix of the bed mat - who knows maybe it'll help someone else out.

Have a safe weekend, everybody!!!...

[Blue Cloud]

I'm going to cut a piece of conveyer belting in the morning to put in the bed of my trailer. I don't want to scratch the new paint this hunting season when I load up all my stuff for camping. It's homemade, but way more tuff than anything on the market, and it's free. 1 1/2" thick and HEAVY. Takes 2 men to lift and handle. I'll probably take it out before winter sets in, just to make sure there's no rust problems.

[BigRedTruck]

I have had a mat in mine....since....before I was born. It has been there as long as I remember, and thats going on 23 years. I swept it out a few weeks ago and there was only some dirt, no rust.

[CJ,s 67 F100]

I have never had a plastic bed liner due to the rust I saw in a truck that had one and because it makes everything go faster laying in the bed when you start and stop. I have always has a rubber mat in the back and they have never caused rust yet that I can see. I only had one truck with the Ford factory Rhino liner. I really like it the best. We put the Herculiner in our 67 and besides some color fading its doing a good job.

[loveoldtrux]

UPDATE:
I just got mine from LMC truck about a week ago or so. I love it - nice and HEAVY duty..... nubs on the bottom keep it elevated so water runs out from underneath it and the thing is HEAVY!!.... Definitely "custom made" it fits perfect. I think it'll do grand under the Gaylord tonneau lid!!